Smoke vent

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to a smoke vent of the type comprising a case as support to at least one leaf and, between said case and said leaf a locking device intended to release said leaf upon detection of excessive heat and/or smoke and/or pressure, wherein connecting means are provided between the case and the leaf such as to ensure the opening of the leaf by gravity following a detection by said locking device.

Umted States Patent 1191 [111 3,821,923 Dauge July 2, 1974 [54] SMOKE VENT 3,596,586 8/1971 Krannich .1 98/86 3,601,437 8/1971 L 98/86 [76] Inventor: Gemges Dauge, 3,741,101 6/1973 si ggmd 98/86 Bogaerstraat 21, at 9830 Sint-Maften Latem 22 Filed. p 13 1972 537,427 2/l957 Canada 98/86 PP 288,300 Primary Examiner-William E. Wayner Assistant Erariziner-William E. Tapolcai, Jr. ig Priority Data Attorney. Agent, (1! FirmRichards & Geier Sept. l5, I971 Belglum 772606 [5 ABSTRACT The invention pertains to a smoke vent of the type [52] us. Cl. 98/86, 49/252 comprising a case as support to at least one leaf and, [51] Int. Cl. F23! 13/02 etween said case and said leaf a locking device in- [58] Field of Search 98/86, 42; 49/1, 7,' 8, tended to release said leaf upon detection of excessive 49/252, 216 heat and/or smoke and/or pressure, wherein connecting means are provided between the case and the leaf [56] References Cited such as to ensure the opening of the leaf by gravity UNITED STATES PATENTS v Lyons 49/l following a detection by said locking device.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUI. 2 Ian SHEUIBFZ 1 SMOKE VENT The present invention pertains to a smoke vent for roofs and similar of the type opening automatically upon occurrence of an excess pressure or heat due to a fire or an explosion. Vents of this type have already been proposed since several years. They are generally fitted with a spring and lever instantaneous opening mechanism, controlled by a calibrated fuse or similar and/or by a remote electric or pneumatic control.

Such opening mechanisms are relatively complex and onerous. They also present the risk, increasing with the passing of years, of not working at the opportune moment, following the breakage of a component, corrosion or the fouling of linkages;

Besides, such known mechanisms are not very esthetic when left visible, as generally happens.

It is of course often possible to hide them,'but this correspondingly increases their price.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate those disadvantages providing a vent the opening of which being essentially ensured by the force of gravity.

This object is met, according to the present invention, by a vent of the type that comprises a case serving as support to at least one leaf and, between said case and said leaf, a locking device intended to release said leaf upon detection of excessive heat, smoke or pressure, wherein connecting means are provided between the case and the leaf such as to ensurethe opening of the leaf by gravity following a detection by said locking device.

Within the scope of this invention, these connecting means may have different configurations, to ensure the opening of the leaf by simple translation, by simple rotation or by a rotation-translation motion. In each case a suitable shape of the case will be chosen.

In order to render more apparent the characteristics and advantages of the invention, the latter is described more in details hereinafter, reference being made to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 to 3 very schematically show three of the possible embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a practical embodiment of the invention;

FIG. graphically represents the zone of localisation of the leaf pivoting axis, in a vent according to FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an end view of a vent according to another embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a vent according to the invention is of the type including a case 1, having a flange 2 perpendicular to the plane 3 of the roof and, at least one leaf 4, the leaf or leafs being normally held in closed position by a locking device 5 controlled, as known per se, by means for detecting an excessive heat, pressure or smoke. Also as known, this locking device may be equipped with an electric, pneumatic or manual control.

In the schematic example of FIG. 1, the case 1 is conformed in such a way that its upper rim constitutes a slanting supporting surface for the leaf 4, the latter being sash-mounted. It is clear that upon the release of mechanism 5, the leaf 4 will follow the linear trajectory shown in dotted lines on FIG. 1.

As represented on FIG. 2, the leaf is here pivoted in 6 on the part 2 of the case and is provided, near its pivoting axis, with a counterweight 7. The opening will occur with a simple rotation motion.

Finally, in the example according to FIG. 3, the leafs are animated with a combined motion of rotation and translation. Two ways of applying this principle according to FIG. 3 are represented more in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5 on one hand and in FIG. 6 on the other.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the vent is of the type having two leafs. The flange 2 of the case shows two parallel rectangular walls 2' and two end walls 2" with triangular upper portion.

Each of the leafs 4 is provided, at opposite ends, with an ear 8 by which the leaf is connected, by means of a pivot 6, to the corresponding end wall 2" of the case. The tops of end walls 2" are interconnected by means of a profile 9. The face of this profile 9 directed towards the roof can receive one or several locking devices 5.

The position of the pivot axis 6 is important. Referring to the graph of FIG. 5 this pivoting axis, seen in projection, will be located within the hatched zone. The latter is included, beyond their intersection, between the vertical drawn from the center of gravity 6 of the leaf in closed position and theperpendicular to the leafs plane, in its closed position, drawn from the upper point H of the wall 2' of the flange. Such a location of the pivot axis ensures not only the tipping of the leaf towards its open position but also the disengagement of the leaf and the upper rim of the flange wall 2'. Any risk of wedging or friction is thereby eliminated.

In the example according to FIG. 6, the case 2 has a shape similar to that of the case according to FIG. 4. However, each leaf 4 is here connected to the case 2 by means of two rods 10, symmetrically disposed in relation to the transversal median plan of the case. These rods are therefor superposed in the drawing of FIG. 6.

Each rod 10 is articulated in a point 11 on the leaf and is pivoted in a point 12, on the corresponding end wall 2" of the case.

As shown on the left hand side of FIG. 6 the length of each rod 10 and the positions of its points of articulation l1 and pivoting 12 are chosen preferably so that, in the drawing, the point 12 be situated on the mediatrix of the segment AB joining the point 12 in closed position (A) of the leaf and that same point in open position (B) and at the intersection (C) of that mediatrix m with a vertical v drawn from (A), or beyond this intersection towards the cases base.

This disposition ensures that the state of equilibrium of a leaf 4 is its open position, towards which it is permanently urged by the force of gravity.

To support and lead each leaf 4, a roller 13 is provided at each end of a wall 2". Each roller 13 is fixed to or pivoted on a support 14 integral with the case and is engaged into a slot 15 provided for this purpose in the corresponding leaf. In this example, each leaf is thus constantly supported in four points, which provides for a perfect stability in every position.

Of course, more than two rods could be provided for each leaf, these rods being then pivoted on a common rod or shaft extending from one end wall 2 to the other. In this case too, a plurality of rollers 13 might be provided. Moreover, the rods 10 could be made telescopic, which would allow tochose other geometry than the one shown as example.

Obviously, several modifications could by made to the examples described hereabove, without departing from the scope of the invention. So, although the described vents are all intended to be mounted on a substantially horizontal roof, it would also be possible to foresee models for slanting and vertical walls.

It could also be considered, in certain cases, to design the constitutive elements of a vent in such a way that the opening motion of the leaf or leafs is directed towards the inside of the protected premises. All these possiblities are easily realizable by the craftsman after reading of this specification.

What I claim is:

1. Smoke vent of the type comprising a case serving as support to at least one leaf and, between said case and said leaf, a locking device intended to release said leaf upon a detection of excessive heat and/or smoke and/or pressure, wherein connecting means are provided between the case and the leaf so as to ensure the opening of the leaf by gravity following a detection by said locking device, wherein said connecting means include rods, each articulated in one extremity on the said leaf and pivoted in the other extremity on said case, the axes of articulation on the one hand and the axes of pivoting on the other being aligned and perpendicular to the direction of opening of the leaf, supporting and guiding means for the leaf being provided on the cases lowest side or near to it, and wherein said supporting and guiding means include at least one roller fixed, respectively pivoted on a salient part of the case, and in contact with the leaf.

2. Smoke vent, according to claim 1, wherein said roller penetrates into a slot provided for this purpose in the leaf. 

1. Smoke vent of the type comprising a case serving as support to at least one leaf and, between said case and said leaf, a locking device intended to release said leaf upon a detection of excessive heat and/or smoke and/or pressure, wherein connecting means are provided between the case and the leaf so as to ensure the opening of the leaf by gravity following a detection by said locking device, wherein said connecting means include rods, each articulated in one extremity on the said leaf and pivoted in the other extremity on said case, the axes of articulation on the one hand and the axes of pivoting on the other being aligned and perpendicular to the direction of opening of the leaf, supporting and guiding means for the leaf being provided on the case''s lowest side or near to it, and wherein said supporting and guiding means include at least one roller fixed, respectively pivoted on a salient part of the case, and in contact with the leaf.
 2. Smoke vent, according to claim 1, wherein said roller penetrates into a slot provided for this purpose in the leaf. 